Reflector signal



May 25, 1954 c. M. BOLSER REFLECTOR SIGNAL 2 Shets-Sheet l Filed Feb.25. 1950 May 25, 1954 C. M BOLSER 2,679,370

REFLECTOR SIGNAL Filed Feb. 25, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zarwaser.

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Patented May 25, 1954 REFLECTOR SIGNAL Clark Mead Bolser, Cedar Falls,Iowa,

The corporation of Iowa assi'gnor to Bolser Corporation, Cedar Falls,Iowa, a

Application February 25, 1950, Serial No. 146,250

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a reector signal used by truckers and touristsfor signalling approaching cars in case of a breakdown or other troubleon a highway.

One object of the invention is to provide a reflector signal which issimple and inexpensive to manufacture yet very effective in use.

Another object is to provide a reflector signal which is collapsible sothat three of them can be contained compactly in a kit to comply withthe require ents in many States calling for the use oi signals, one atthe truck or automobile, another a specified number of feet ahead of it,and a third one a specied number of feet behind it.

Still another object is to provide a collapsible reflector signal whichcan be easily and. quickly unfolded to a position where the reiiector isupstanding at right angles to the irface of the highway and is supportedrigidly in that position even though high winds act on the signal to tipit over.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of myreliector signal, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated. in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a reiiector signal embodying' mypresent invention and shows it the unfolded position ready for use.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on` the line Ii--t of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the I line 5 5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the signal.

Figure 7 is a plan view thereof with the signal folded.

Figures 8 and 9 are end views of Figure 7 on the indicated lines 8-3 and9-9 thereof.

Figure l0 is a side elevation of Figure 7.

Figures ll, l2 and 13 are enlarged cross sectional views on the lineil-il of Figure 1 showing the parts in different positions during thecollapsing or erecting operation; and

Figure 14 is a detail sectional View on the line Iii- Ill oi Figure 1l.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral lil toindicate a base plate and I2 side flanges formed thereon, the plates andthe flanges being preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal'.Associated with the base plate t0 is an upright indicated generally at Mand comprising upright elements I6 of channel shape as shown in Figure 4and' their flanges curled into tubular formation as indicated at i8. Theupright elements It are secured together at their lower ends by a crossmember 2D of sheet metal having an upstanding flange 22 and a pair ofupstand-ing nanges 24 at its ends. These flanges 2li are spot welded tothe upright element IB' as indicated at 26.

A pair of reflectors 28 are provided which are usually colored red toindicate flange-r. The reflectors 8` are assembledi-n a channel shapedframe 3i! which, as shown in Figure 3, extends around both of themand islocated between the upright elements i t and their tubular flanges i8.The frame 3Q is spot welded to the upright element i6 as indicated at32.

The manner of association of the upright laf-l with the base plate toconsists of headed rivets 3:1y carried by the upright elements i6- asillu-strated in Figure 5 and passing through slots 3S in the. anges l2.This permitslongitudinal movement of the rivets 3i along the base itYfor a. purpose. which will hereinafter appear.

Also shown in Figure 5 are headed rivets 38 mounted in the cross member2t and adapted to enter keyhole slotsl of the base plate It which slotsare best shown in Figures 14 at l- 42. Thel upright elements i6 areprovided with tongues t4 at their upper ends and the flanges l2 areprovided with notches d6 adapted at times to receive the tongues as willhereinafter appear. The base plate ID is provided with three feet 48 ofrubber or the like to prevent slipping of the reiiector signal along asmooth pavement when a high wind is blowing. One of the tubular flangesi8 of the upright elements it is adapted to receive a flagstaff 56 asshown in Figure 1 having a red flag 52 thereon for further aidV inpresenting a larger signal than the reflector 2.8 during. the daytime.The reectors as such of course are most effective at night whenreflecting the lights froman oncoming vehicle.

Practical operation My reflector signal is adapted to be set up as shownin Figure l for signalling purposes. When so set up, the upright |4- isrigid relative to the base ill and winds as high as forty miles per hourare ineffective to cause any slippage of the reflector with relation toa smooth pavement surface (54 in Figures 3 and 6). The rigidity of theupright I4 at right angles to the base I0 likewise places the reflectors28 at right angles to the highway surface 54-for best reflectingcharacteristics in relation to the headlights of an oncoming car and formaximum warning distance. During the daytime the flag 50 mounted on thereflector signal increases its effectiveness for day time use at whichtime, of course, the reectors are relatively ineiective except toreilect possible sunlight at certain angles.

Referring to Figures 11, 12 and 13, the reector signal may be collapsedfor compactness by iirst moving the upright I4 to the left which movesthe headed rivets 38 from the position shown toA a position in alignmentwith the enlarged portions 40 of the keyhole slots of Figure 14, thearrow a in Figure 11 indicating the movement of one corner of the headof a rivet 38. When so moved,

the Figure 12 position is then assumed.

The upright I4 may now be swung a quarter turn to the left which causestwo corners of the rivet to swing as indicated by the arrows b and c toassume the position shown in Figure 13. This moves the upright from theposition of Figure 6 to the dotted position of Figure 10. The uprightmay then be pushed toward the left in Figure 10 to bring the upright andits reflectors entirely within the outline of the base i0, thuscondensing the overall length of the reflector signal when folded. Threeof the signals may then be stacked in a relatively small container to bekept in the tool box or trunk of a truck or automobile.

The width of the flanges l2 is such that the surfaces o the reflectors28 are held` from contact with each other and possible scratching duringthe time the reflector signals are stacked in a 'carrying case. This isillustrated in Figure 8 wherein there are two of the reector signalsstacked together.

In order to set up the signal the operations just described arereversed, that is, rst of all the upright is moved from the full-lineposition of Figure 10 to the dotted line position and then swung asindicated by the arrows d and e in Figure 13 to the position of Figure12 again, the upright nally Figure 11 with the rivets 38 in the smallportions 42 of the keyhole slots as shown in section in Figure 14. Therivets 34 serve as guides to keep the parts together during collapsingand set-up, and the rivets 38 are suitably proportioned so that theytightly engage in the keyhole slot portions 42 in the set-up position ofthe parts thus mounting the upright rigidly with respect to the base.

When the upright i4 is in the position of Figure l0, it will be notedthat the ears 44 enter the notches 46. This serves to keep the uprightcentered in relation to the flanges I2 so as to avoid any possiblecontact of the reflectors 28 with each other when the reector signalsare stacked as in Figure 8.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my reector signal without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claimsany modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents whichmay be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a collapsible reflector signal of the character disclosed, achannel shaped base, the

being pushed to the position of i flanges thereof being slottedlongitudinally, an upright having headed rivets slidable and rotatablein said slots and having a headed projection from its lower end, saidbase having a keyhole slot to receive said headed projection in theenlarged part thereof with said headed projection holding the lower endof the upright against the base when moved into the small portion of thekeyhole slot, said base having friction elements to prevent slippage ofsaid base along a highway surface under the impact of wind against theupright, said upright having ears and said flanges having notchesreceiving said ears when the signal is in collapsed position.

2. In a reflector signal, a channel shaped base, the flanges thereofbeing longitudinally slotted and the web thereof being provided with akeyhole slot, an upright, a cross piece on said upright provided with aheaded projection engaging said keyhole slot and mount the uprightrigidly at right angles to said base, and the arms or" said uprightadjacent their lower ends having projections slidable and pivotal insaid slots of said fianges, the upper ends of said uprights and one endoi each of said flanges having linger and notch means to center saidupright with respect to said flanges in the collapsed position of thereflector signal.

3. In a reliector signal, a channel shaped base, the ianges thereofbeing longitudinally slotted and the web thereof being provided with akeyhole slot, a cross piece on said upright provided with a headedprojection engaging said keyhole slot and mount the upright rigidly atright angles to said base, and the arms of said upright adjacent theirlower ends having projections slidable and pivotal in said slots of saidflanges.

4. 1n a collapsible reector signal of the character disclosed, a channelshaped base, the ilanges thereof being slotted longitudinally, anupright having headed rivets slidable and rotatable in said slots andhaving a headed projection at its lower end, said base having a keyholeslot receiving said headed projection in the enlarged part thereof withsaid headed projection holding the lower end of the upright against thebase when moved into the small portion of the keyhole slot, said uprighthaving ears and said nanges having notches receiving said ears when thesignal is in collapsed position.

5. In a reiiector signal, a base and an upright, said upright comprisingan inverted U-shaped element, a pair of reiector elements arrangededge-to-edge, a channel-shaped band around both of said reector elementsto retain them in assembled relation to each other, said band andreflector elements being mounted between the arms of said U-shapedupright, said arms being channel shaped to receive said band andreflector elements, and means to retain said band and reflector elementstherein.

1defcrences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 744,149 Wilton Nov. 17, 1903 1,573,246 Holland Feb. 16, 19262,520,236 Carver Aug. 29, 1950 2,525,728 Sauer Oct. 10, 1950 2,536,177Harkins Jan. 2, 1951

